Miller said his master's degree in business administration and position as chief executive officer of two businesses make him more qualified to address budget issues than all of the current commissioners.

Miller compared the county to the private sector.

"When I run my business, I won't pay for something unless its going to make money," Miller said.

He pointed to Justice of the Peace Jim Hansen's salary increase as a frivolity and waste of taxpayer dollars.

However, Hansen's raise will be fully funded by Senate Bill 1412, which went into effect Jan. 1, Hansen explained to the budget grievance committee in August when they approved his raise.

The bill increased the filing fee for justice court civil cases by $10 to $15 and earmarked the money to help fund the increased workload of the justice courts.

Commissioners have said over and over the reason for the crunch this year is the transition to the new jail, when the current jail and new jail will have to be staffed and maintained.

"It's wrong for these people to stand up here and blame this sheriff and this jail," Miller said.

He blamed other departments, such as maintenance and public works and called for departments to stop overbudgeting and trim their budgets better.

"We made a number of deep cuts in department requests," said Bill McCay, incumbent Precinct 1 commissioner. "The bulk of the budget goes to the detention center."

Commissioners have said department budgets were cut by about $1 million before approval.

Added McCay: "It's going to the needs to make the transition - not the hopes, wants and gosh-it'd-be-nices."